THE INDIAN ST LEGER, GR.1 – THIRD GROUP I VICTORY FOR ADJUDICATE

The champion filly Adjudicate (Multidimensional-Alvarita) found it hard to throw her weight around in her first two appearances in Pune, and while giving chunks of weight to most of the opposition in particular her nemesis, Bushtops, she still held on to second place on both occasions. The winner of two Group I races, the Calcutta Derby and the Indian Turf Invitation Cup was making her curtain call for Pune in the last Indian Classic of the year and the Indian St. Leger, Gr.1 looked to be hers for the taking.

Many were touting that the James McKeown-trained filly was off her best and that like many fillies after a point of time, was beginning to tune down, and that the in-form Bushtops was heading for his fourth victory this season. While Adjudicate turned disappointment at losing her earlier two starts into determination, working well and looking the part, Bushtops’ absence at track work led some to believe that all was not well with the gelding’s preparation for this race.

Roberta set the crawling pace and was followed by Adjudicate, Golden Fortune and Bushtops in the rear. They maintained that formation till the 7f marker when Adjudicate seemed keen to step on it finding the pace too slow. She took the lead before heads turned for home while the Hyderabad challenger had already run out of steam and fell into last. Adjudicate was comfortable in the lead while Roberta was pushed to keep second place while her owner-mate Bushtops made ground on her outside. Into the straight, Roberta was ridden out fully to try and get the leader who was still on a tight rein. When Roberta’s shadow came a little closer jockey Sandesh decided to pull away and he did it with ease to pass the post 2 lengths to the good of Roberta. 7 ¼ lengths behind came the Hyderabad challenger Golden Fortune with Bushtops in last, probably adding credence to the doubts that existed before the race.

This champion filly, the property of the Khaitan and Nanda families has now won seven of her 15 starts, come second on five occasions and thrice in third place. Six of her seven wins have been Group races, three Group I races; one Group 2 and two Group 3 races. She has placed seven times in Group races. She has already amassed prize money of ₹2,72,54,443 and there surely is more to come.